Riley steps out of the shower and I put the towel around her, draping it over the top of her head so just her face peeks out. I pat her dry a bit then hold her by the shoulders and stare into her eyes.
Somehow in this mundane moment, I am overcome. I love her so much. I remember her little face peeking out of the towel when she was a baby. Those same huge, innocent eyes. She smiles at me.
“Riley…when you look into my eyes, what do you see?”
I want her to remember it. This feeling of her mom looking into her eyes and loving her. I want it in her bones. In every cell of her body. She’s growing up on me. I want her to remember this, if nothing else from her childhood. Her mother’s eyes full of love for her.
She looks at me thoughtfully, and replies, “sockets.”
Aw, I get it’s not the answer you were hoping for, but that it’s very “her.” Sweet. I took some time to poke around the blog. Looks great and how cool that you have the book to promote.
I like what you wrote on my blog re: getting a sitter. I DO have that so I have some time to get things done, like WRITE. I think what happens is that once I have that quiet time, I tend to fill it first with the other noise (the blog, twitter, etc.) I tell myself it’s just a quick warm up, but that never ends up being the case. I need a better way to warm up!
“Like”
Love it. Hard to plan a tender moment.
I was having a legit tender moment, she just didn’t get the memo! My sweetie girl.
In the midst of understanding your tenderness, I broke out laughing at Riley’s reply.
The simplicity of children is a wonder. Thank you for sharing this story. Peace.
She can’t be anything other than herself….which is such a lovely, lovely thing.
HA!! Another tea-spewing moment, and worth the wipe up. 😀
Loveya!!
Amanda
That is really precious. And literal. It’s amazing getting a glimpse inside the mind of our children. I am constantly amazed at how, well, individual they are.
I’m sure that all the love you’re pouring into her *will* be remembered, too. 🙂
Isn’t that just the way! LMAO! I have felt the same way, this HUGE love, this NEED to mark the moment, wanting them to remember how big, and deep, and giant my love for them is… and then had about the same reaction. haha! But you know what? Wyatt pointed out to me that my love “is always here, so it just feels normal” to him!
Seeeeeeee???? That was an aha moment for me. I know it is the same for your kids. They just ALWAYS feel your love, it isn’t “a moment” for them. It is their life.
🙂
too much…
Gotta love the literalness that comes with autism!
Ha! Love it. Love her!